Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead Books, 2003.

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The Kite Runner is a novel in which the narrator, Amir, reflects on his childhood

and its impact on his current life. The novel begins with Amir and his best friend,

Hassan, having an inseparable bond which later becomes severed when Amir witnesses

his best friend’s rape. He lives with the hidden guilt for the rest of his life and spends his

life trying to forgive himself for the sin of standing by as Hassan got raped. Throughout

the novel, readers can observe how the characters have developed into better versions

of themselves after learning from their mistakes and making amends. The author also

displays how the characters in the novel adopt multiple identities depending on whom

they are interacting with (friends and family) . Likewise, the novel illustrates the

protagonist’s internal struggle with his identity and living up to parental and societal

expectations. In order to please those around him and become a refined individual, he

endeavors to adopt traits such as loyalty and bravery.

Gord Downie. "Gord Downie's The Secret Path - YouTube." N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2020.

The Secret Path is a non-fiction film about an individual, Chanie Wenjack, who

dies while trying to escape from a residential school. The film shows his struggles at the

residential school and what he went through during his journey trying to make it back

home. The film illustrates that due to Wenjack’s identity, he was taken from home and

forced to change who he was. As the residential school tries to steal Wenjack’s identity,

background, religion, and beliefs from him, Wenjack faces the struggle of remaining firm

and grounded to his roots. The film informs the viewers how an individual can face

discrimination, indoctrination, and hatred as a result of having a different identity. In

addition, during Wenjack’s escape, the film reveals who Wenjack is beyond his religions

and beliefs when it illustrates him as someone who is brave, loved, and determined. This

instance helps the viewers understand that a person's identity is not only based on their

background and race, but also determined by who they are at heart.
"Romeo & Juliet: Act 1 Prologue." PlayShakespeare.com: The Ultimate Free Shakespeare .

. Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2020.

Romeo and Juliet is a play in which two individuals from rival families fall in love

with each other. While Juliet fakes her death for the sake of their love, Romeo believes

she actually died and kills himself. As a result, Juliet ends up doing suicide because she

cannot live without her love, Romeo. The opposing social background identities brought

upon them by their family has prevented their union as a couple. In order to relieve

themselves from their given identities as Montagues and Capulets, they both kill

themselves. Despite belonging to contrasting social groups, Romeo and Juliet are

inseparable and do not allow the social subdivisions to affect their love. The identity that

Romeo and Juliet have together, differs from their identity with their families. This

Shakespearean play shows that class affiliations can be rigid and serve as obstacles

between the two individuals who wholeheartedly love one another. One would assume

that opposing social backgrounds would cause Juliet and Romeo to be rivals, but

instead, Shakespeare challenges this notion when each of them suicides for one

another.

White, E.B. "E. B. White – Once More to the Lake." Genius. N.p., n.d. Web.

Once More to the Lake is a short story about a man remembering his childhood

memories. He goes on a trip accompanied by his son to a lake his own father took him

once as a child. As him and his son go through certain scenarios, he begins to imagine

himself as his son, and him as his father. From the story, readers can reflect on how the

father is struggling to identify himself as who he is. For instance, instead of positioning

himself as a father, he imagines himself as a kid. It can be inferred that the father is

trying to relive his childhood memories one more time before he passes away. Since

everything had remained exactly the same as when the father was growing up, it causes

him to be engulfed in nostalgia. The story not only mentions the father struggling to
 identify himself but also how his identity is beginning to transform into his childhood

identity.

Rao, Aruna. "The Gender at Work Podcast." G@W-CREA Podcast Series, Episode 3: How .

. Can We Rethink Language and Terminology to Shape New Strategies,

Narratives and . . Our Advocacy? N.p., 8 July 2019. Web. 22 July 2020.

In this podcast, a group of individuals from across the world share their thoughts

on how the use of language and terminology can discriminate as well as empower an

individual. They reflect on how in the countries they come from, language can be used to

discriminate against one's race and the languages spoken. On the other hand, language

can also exhibit one’s level of education, and the likes and dislikes of an individual as

well. Moreover, a person’s identity can be assumed based on the language and

terminology they used. If a person uses negative diction or speaks a different language,

it can tell a lot about one's identity such as their preferences, dislikes, background,

culture, etc. Language and terminology can also empower one’s gender identity, as well

as discriminate against them as well.

Atencio, Mariana. "What Makes You Special? | Mariana Atencio ..." N.p., 2 Feb. 2017. Web. 22 .

. July 2020.

Mariana Atencio does a TED Talk about her life as an immigrant in America. She

shares the challenges she had to overcome while trying to fit in and the changes this led

to in her lifestyle. This reflection makes her realize and appreciate her unique identity,

and makes her conclude that who she is as an immigrant doesn’t make her different, but

makes her special. Mariana reflects on how everyone of colour living in America should

not be afraid of their background and who they are, but should embrace it and use it to

be unique. Rather than discriminating against someone based on their identity to feel

good about yours or to fit in, you should accept all identities. With the use of scenarios
she has been through, she comes to the realization at the end that everyone’s identity is

unique, and there is beauty in having diverse identities.